A Week In The Life of Kanye West

Kanye West’s week of fashion madness and New York conquering is over, sadly. The King of Twitter, pop-rap art experimentation, awkward interruptions and the anti-sunglass decided to skip the Grammys and instead op for making the rounds at NYC’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week along with the mix of occasional big-name classy celebs (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Gwen Stefani, Kirsten Dunst and Christina Hendricks) and even more not-so-big-name celebs (Jill Zarrin, Tinsley Mortimer, Adrienne Bailon, Kelly Bensimon and Michelle Trachtenberg). It was an eventful week to say the least. Here, we take the time to reflect and admire Kanye’s week that was.

Kanye announces that he’s headlining the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans along with Mary J Blige.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Bring it back to the 90s! Kanye West sits next to recently single Vanessa Hudgens and fellow musician Keri Hilson at designer Jeremy Scott‘s presentation at Milk Studios. He rolled up in style – with nearly a dozen bodyguards. By Wednesday he was sick of interviews and kept his distance. But happy to chat up Keri Hilson who told OK! earlier in the week that Kanye is her fashion consultant: “I mean, I have fashion conversations with him more than with my stylist!”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15

When Kanye asks for some fried chicken – you better bring him some friend chicken! At the Belvedere sponsored bar for V Magazine at the new Mondrian in Soho, Kanye arrived with a slew of bodyguards (of course) and asked someone to run out and bring back some fried chicken so he could have it along with his Belvedere cocktail. After all, nothing tastes better with vodka than soul food, especially with fake dollar bills falling from the sky (which they did later at the club).

But that was just how he ended the night. He began the day by scooping up the hottest ticket at fashion week sitting front row at the Rodarte show in Chelsea along with Vogue’s Anna Wintour, Sofia Coppola, Kirsten Dunst and teen-blogger Tavi. He then headed over to Alexander Wang’s SoHo boutique to watch Lauryn Hill perform at the designer’s private bash.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Happy Valentine’s Day, Kanye! We imagine he spent the day of love having bubble baths, eating chocolates and listening to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy on repeat.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Although he missed Sunday’s Grammy show, we assume he was in his hotel watching. When Esperanza Spalding beat out Justin Bieber, Drake, Mumford & Sons and Florence and the Machine for Best New Artist, Kanye Tweeted: “Damn… I can’t find the words to explain how I feel about the best new artist award… Don’t wanna say the wrong thing.” Perhaps, it was best he was in New York, after all. Kanye was seen strolling around Lincoln Center in the afternoon and reportedly attended the launch for Diet Pepsi’s new controversial skinny can. Controversy and Kanye? Never!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Kanye West packed three shows into his schedule on Saturday. He began at Tory Burch showing he was in with the insiders and sat front row next to the designer herself at Lincoln Center. Kanye then joined pal Erin Wasson for Alexander Wang’s show. But that was not all! He finished off by hooking up with buddy Kid Cudi sitting front row for Band of Outsiders’ first full-fledged runway show. He was overheard telling creative director Scott Sternberg afterwards: “That show was dope! And that purple fur cape was dope.” We thought Kanye’s dope fashion week was over and he’d be leaving for the Grammy’s, but alas, it had just begun.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Come on Kobe! Taking a detour from the fashion universe, Kanye sat front row at the most heated contest between the coasts: the Los Angles Lakers versus New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden. The Lakers came out on top 113-96, but there was more stargazing than watching basketball to do here anyways. Among his front row fellow stars were Donald Trump, Spike Lee (who gave a warm hug to Kanye), Howard and Beth Stern, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz and David Duchovny.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10

He kicked off his stay in New York with his first public appearance at the GQ & CFDA Best New Menswear Designers in America Fall 2011 Collections party at the trendy Ace Hotel. Wearing a black leather jacket and dark shades that he would continue to sport for many days to follow, Kanye partied with pal Kid Cudi and comedian Aziz Ansari.